she's not carrying eggs is she? Would this make her unsettled?

yes that's possible
i've got a big box a megaray and topsoil ready

i'll keep her awake now i'm not 100% sure but i don't think forcing hibernation can be a good thing for her after so many attempts

i have an old outside toilet building (toilet now gone) that's attached to the house but not part of the house confusing i know weird house. i use it for hibernation - it's worked great for me and ideal as i can access it from inside the house so when i said earlier that i "bring her in" i actually meant that i bring her into the toilet building. sorry if that threw you into thinking i've been bringing her indoors

us? Confused??? Never.....!

I think you're being sensible, I too would be inclined to think there was a reason behind her reluctance to hibernate and would trust your instincts. Its not going to hurt her for one year but as you say, forcing the issue could.

I hope every things ok with her, keep us updated on her progress, good luck xxx

hi all , well im glad it#s not just me , i tried to wind down all 6 hermans but only the little git George has gone inot hibernation-box method , the rest i tried another week but no wide awake so there indoors and the 2 leopards indoors , would be great if it was really cold outside but it's not - BUZZ is stomping everywhere he gets out in the loung for a few hours to burn the energy off then he is fine ,
can i put buzz in his outside run for a while about an hour in this weather ?4

You would probably find he didn't do much 'stomping about' if he was outside because although it is warm, it's not as hot as inside the house.
Personally I would worry about the big difference in outside/inside temps - especially adding windchill.
However, I'm still learning so could be talking out my **** for all I know.
Kimmy

I agree with Kimmy on this one. The temperature can go from 10 down to 4 or 5 in a matter of an hour or so. I think if we decide to over winter our torts, we have to simulate spring and summer time temperatures as best we can. I don't think the rapid change in temperatures would do them any good.

Gail
xx

I agree with Kimmy and Gail, there is often a huge fluctuation in temps at this time of year. Bubble has slowed right down and although she has space on the lounge floor to wander for part of the day she rarely makes full use of the chance. Our lounge is a very warm 30 degrees most of the day as we keep marine fish and the lights warm everything. I just think once outside any tort would slow down too much to be of benefit. The tortoise I kept 30 years ago used to instinctively burrow into the garden every October/November and surface in march. I could predict how cold/mild the winter would be by how deep she had dug herself in. X x x hugs x x

well ,what i did cos he is an older man - they think they know best , i left the back door opn and he wandered up to and stood on the edge as if breathing in the fresh air trying to decide, ( yesterday)
today i thought i will try put the oven timer on for 35 minutes - didnt put him in the oven
put out in the run with his hutch door open so he could sneak in if he wanted too .
went out 30 minutes later grass weeds in mouth hiding in his hutch , brought him and put him in his run indoors and fine eat basked now stomping ,
would do it if the temps are below 10 degrees out side but at the moment about 12 so i chanced it ,